Alliance: No child should go hungry

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - Preble, Montgomery and Greene counties report nearly 40,000 children are considered "food insecure".  That means these kids aren't getting the basic nutrition needed to thrive.

A statewide summit held this week in Cincinnati is pushing to correct that.

Millions of pounds of food pass through the doors of the local Foodbank each year.  This is where food is sent to agencies in 3 surrounding counties, relieving hunger in the Miami Valley. 

"There are so many families still struggling with unemployment, underemployment chronic unemployment," said Rosemary Dannon, Executive Director of the Foodbank.

Many of hunger's victims are small and that is the focus of a summit about how to make sure Ohio's children are eating properly.

"We need to work w schools and agencies getting them to the right places to get fed," said Charlie Kozlesky, Children's Hunger Alliance.

The Children's Hunger Alliance is spearheading an effort to continue to feed children not only through school breakfast and lunch programs, but by offering meals throughout the summer.

The new, statewide goal is to provide meals to kids during the summer that will create a more consistent way to feed Ohio's children.

"It's the local individuals, councilmen, church groups who can disseminate information and find ways to get kids there," said Kozlesky.

If you or your organization are interested in working with a summer location to feed kids, contact The Children's Hunger Alliance at 614-643-8021.

And remember, you can always donate to WDTN's Food for Friends campaign.  All the food we collect goes to the Foodbank.